Sustainable Services Review

Lincolnshire Sustainable Services Review is a review of health and care in Lincolnshire. It is looking at the services provided in hospitals, primary, community and social care in the face of rising costs and demand. The review is being led by:

- The four Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) - Lincolnshire East, Lincolnshire West, South Lincolnshire and South West Lincolnshire

- United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust

- Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust

- Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

- East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust

- NHS England Area Team

- Lincolnshire County Council.

Healthcare is constantly changing and advancing

Health and care is constantly advancing and the role of the Lincolnshire health and care economy is to keep our residents healthy and meet their health and care needs in the best possible way. As such, it is essential that we continue to keep pace with developments and the ever changing needs of the local population. This is the first time health and social care have been reviewed at the same time and we want to make sure that the services we deliver are safe, of high quality and effective for the future.

We would like as many people as possible to get involved and help us make the changes that need to happen. Views of the public will be central in shaping our local health and care services and people will have the opportunity to have their say as part of a wider engagement and consultation phase in 2014.

What the review covers

· Quality and safety - the Lincolnshire health and care community is committed to delivering high quality services across the county. This can only be achieved by the whole health and care community working together.

· Joined up working - it's vital that health and care professionals are working directly together to give people the care they need quickly and easily.

· Money - we have a projected financial gap of over £100 million in a few years' time if we carry on providing care as we do now. There is no rescue fund and only radical rearrangement of the way we provide care will achieve financial sustainability.

· Staff - it's difficult to recruit the staff we need. For our services to be sustainable we will need to change them to make recruitment easier.

Frequently asked questions

Is this type of review only happening in Lincolnshire?

No, from April 2013 nationally and locally major change has taken place, and these changes will continue over the next few years. In Lincolnshire the whole health and care community has agreed to work together to create a health and care system that works in a joined up way.

What services are being looked at?

We are looking to design services which provide better and more efficient health and care services to people, making the best use of funding available. By providing the right service, at the right time, in the right place we can deliver the best care for people. We also want to build on the large number of innovative and successful initiatives already happening. Key areas being looked at are:

• Urgent Care - an example of this would be when a patient goes into hospital at short notice

• Planned Care - this is when patients are admitted on a known date for an inpatient stay or to attend a booked outpatient appointment

• Women and Children's service - an example of this would bematernity services and care of children

• Prevention and Long Term Care - this is about making sure that patients receive the right care, by the right person, at the right time, in the right place

Who have we listened to?

We have talked to representatives from all provider and commissioner organisations, the Local Area Team and designated patient representatives. We have also included the views of HealthWatch, the voluntary and third sector, carers and district council colleagues who have been involved in the Care Design Groups and have helped to develop a blueprint for the future of health and care services in the county.

What have the Care Design Groups suggested?

A key theme that has emerged has been the development of neighbourhood teams that will help to deliver the right health and care to patients at the right time in the right locations. To make this work we would need to explore new ways of flexible working amongst all organisations across the health and care community.

What happens next?

The blueprint document is now being formally considered by all the key partners after which there will be more detailed work to develop sustainable options for Lincolnshire. We will be actively seeking the views of the public on any proposed changes in 2014.

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